Independent file photo YME’s Anna McCosh battles for possession with a Lakeview opponent during their Jan. 2016 game. McCosh is leading the way for the Sting in her senior season and recently reached the 1,000-point mark for her career on Tuesday.

GRANITE FALLS – Anna McCosh has been playing competitive basketball since she was in fourth grade. She became a member of the Yellow Medicine East varsity squad during her freshman year and started two games. It was during her sophomore year that she became a full-time starter. Last year as a junior McCosh averaged a double-double and was one of the best post players in the area.

Now as a senior, McCosh is one of five returning starters for the Sting and she’s hoping to make her final season in a Sting uniform a memorable one.

“As a team we have high goals for the year,” McCosh said. “We are trying to take it one game at a time. Our goal would be to get to the state tournament. Right now were just focused on one game at a time.”

McCosh and her teammates have started off on the right foot. They own a 4-1 record and are on a four-game winning streak since dropping the season opener. On Tuesday night McCosh achieved a personal milestone by going over the 1,000 career points milestone.

“That was such a cool experience,” McCosh said. “My parents have always told me ‘To whom much is given, much is required.’ God has blessed me with the gift to play basketball. To accomplish that is accomplishing my purpose that God has given me to play basketball.”

McCosh finished the game with 25 points and helped the Sting defeat the Lancers for their fourth win of the season. McCosh knew she was getting close to the milestone, but had no idea that she was going to reach it this soon.

“I knew I was close, but I didn’t know I was that close,” McCosh said. “The buzzer went off I thought somebody had called a timeout. Then everybody started clapping. It was really cool.”

McCosh is a three-sport athlete for the Sting. The senior said that she enjoys every sport, but that basketball is her favorite.

“I just love competing,” McCosh said. “I like the feeling that I get when I do something good, or the team does something good.”

With so many returning players the Sting naturally have great chemistry on and off the court. Those teammates will be one of the things McCosh misses the most about YME when she graduates this spring.

“My team has great chemistry this year,” McCosh said. “I’ll miss all the girls and the coaches. They’ve helped shape me into the person that I am. I’ll miss the people, not only my teammates and coaches, but the fans. It’s just been a great experience.”